Animal-trap



V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1; J. L. SY M 0 ND S Anim al-Tr ap.

No. 228,693; Patented June 8,1880.

WITNESSES vemon WWW.

ATTORNEY N-PEIBIS, PEWTO-UTMOGRAPMER, wAshmmoN. n c.

2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

J. L. SYMONDS. AnimaLTrap.

Nb. 228,693. Patented June 8,1880.

ATTORNEY ILFEI'ERS, PilOTD-LQTHOGRAPNER, WASHINGION- D. (1

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. SYMONDS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ANIM-AL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,693, dated June 8, 1880. Application filed November 1, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN L. SYMoNDs, of

. Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Animal-Traps; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an animal-trap of such construction that when the door is closed it is prevented from being opened by any force that may be exerted against the inside of the door by the rat or animal, and can only be opened by devices connected with the outside of the trap and arranged expressly for raising and opening the door; and to this end my invention consists, essentially, in the combination, with the door, having a bent wire secured thereto or formed as a part thereof, and a spring,one end of which is secured to the body of the trap and its opposite end formed with an eye or ring which encircles the bent wire on the door of the trap, of a bail connected at one end with the bent wire on the trap-door, and a lever for engagement with the opposite end of the bail, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the door is closed the free end of the spring will engage with the straight portion of the bent wire on the door and prevent the door from being opened by pressure applied against its inner side, while the lever which engages with the bail, being forced down against the top of the trap, operates to raise the free end of the bail and the latter to raise the free end of the spring, transferring it from the straight to the bent portion of the wire on the trap-door, thus enabling the latter to be readily opened for setting the trap.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view, in which one of the doors is open and the other is closed. Fig. 2 represents the same with one of the levers raised high enough to unlock the door, but with the other door represented as partially open. Fig.3 is a plan view with both doors open. Fig. 4 is an end view with the door closed.

A is the trap, provided with doors B, hinged at b. B are wires or rods, located preferably at the edges of the doors and shaped substantially as indicated, with a portion, 1), parallel with the face of the door and a portion, 12 inclined thereto.

0 is a spring, suitably fastened at any point intermediate between the ends of the trapas, for instance, at c. The outer end of this spring is formed into a loop, 0, which loop embraces the wire or rod B.

D is a bail, provided with loops at d, embracing the rod or wire B beneath the loops 0 of the spring 0, so that as the bail is raised it will lift the ends of the spring until they are clear from the straight portions I) of the rods B. The upper portion of the bail D extends nearly to the top of the door.

E is a lever, fastened in any suitable manner to the door and extending down back of the bail D, while the bail D is prevented from swinging out forward by a guide, D.

The operation of this part of the device will now be explained. The door being closed, the arms 0 of the spring 0, by embracing the portions 1) of the rod B, firmly lock the door against opening by any outward strain upon I the latter from the inside; but by taking hold of the lever E and elevating the same about its fulcrum it will, in rising, impinge against the bail D, lifting the same, and with it the ends 0 of the spring, until the loops 0 are clear of the straight portion b of the rods B. The lever E will then, by being forced backward, cause the door to open about its hinges, and the spring 0 will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 upon theinclined portion 1) of the 'rod B, and the lever will lie flat upon the top of the trap, in which position it is held by a link, F, which is in turn connected with the trigger or bait-hook G in the usual manner, so that when the rat or other animal tampers .with the bait the trigger is released and the springs 0 force the door shut and lock it in its closed position.

There may be one or more springs attached to each door, and they may be located at the side of the trap or in any other convenient 1ocality. It will thus be seen that when closed the doors are locked by the direct action of the spring, so that any attempt to open a door will throw the strain longitudinally of the spring, and not in a direction to retract the spring. The door is therefore held by a positive lock, and not by the tension of the spring.

What I claim is 1. In an animal-trap, the combination, with the door provided with a wire or rod, B, form ed with a straight portion, 1), and an inclined portion, W, of a spring, G, one end of which is attached to the trap and the other provided with an eye or loop, which encircles the wire B, a bail, D, the end of which is provided with an eye or loop, that encircles wire B at a point below the loop, or eye on the'end of spring 0, a lever connected with the door, and suitable means for setting the trap, substantially as set forth.

2. In an animal-trap, the combination, with the door provided with a wire or rod, B,forn1ed with a straight portion, 12, and an inclined portion, Z), a spring, (J, one end of which is attached to the body of the trap and the other provided with an eye or loop, which encircles the wire B of a bail, D, having an eye or loop on its end, which encircles wire 13 at a point below the attachment of the eye or loop on spring (3, a lever, E, link F, and trigger or bait-hook Gr, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof 1 sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. SYMONDS. Witnesses.

W. O. BnLLows, WM. M. PORTER. 

